#21-22

#21 Slob by Ellen Potter

Don't let the title fool you...this book may not be what you expect. Owen is a 7th grader in New York. He is the fattest kid in his school and probably the smartest. He has a sister with an identity issue and as you may expect, he is being bullied. Owen is a kind of inventor and puts his brilliance to use as a distraction for his school problems. Unfortunately, Owen is also dealing with deeper issues that he and his sister have attempted to bury in their memories.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and appreciated the twist included in the story.

#22 Forge by Laurie Halse-Anderson (Seeds of America series Book 2)

Two words: Incredible Brilliance. Anderson is a master of historical research and does not disappoint her Chains fans one bit. She continues to be one of my favorite YA writers. Forge is the second book in the Seeds of America series. It follows the lives of two former slaves: Isabel and Curzon, intent on living freely in 1777. Anderson puts the reader into the middle of Valley Forge and all the miseries contained there, the lives of soldiers truly fighting for the United States citizens' freedom, and into the minds of African American slaves believed to be the property of masters. I almost felt guilty sitting in my comfortable home reading about the atrocities unbelievable circumstances the men and women faced. Isabel and Curzon are quiet heroes that young adults should learn about. This would be a great series to share with young people in a book club or lit circle setting.